Fort Hood soldier, 23, dies in Tomball after returning from Iraq

A Fort Hood soldier who recently had returned from Iraq died at home in Tomball on New Year’s Day.

Family members of Pfc. Kenneth McDaniel, 23, called 9-1-1 after finding him in the garage of their home in 12000 block of Westwold about 1 p.m. Sunday. His cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Army Pfc. Kenneth McDaniel, 23, of Tomball, died on New Year's Day. Photo courtesy Gloria McDaniel.

McDaniel had returned from Iraq Nov. 6 and was in Tomball to celebrate the holidays with his loved ones. He was among the last American troops to serve in the Iraq War.

The Klein Collins High School graduate was an avid reader and an animal lover who worked as a vet tech before joining the Army, said his mother, Gloria McDaniel.

“He was an intelligent young man,” she said. “Just a very gentle, kind spirit.”

McDaniel never went anywhere without a book, even in Iraq, his mother said. He especially loved science fiction, but also devoured historical novels and old classics, as well as the latest bestsellers.

“He always had a book in his hands, and if it wasn’t in his hand it was in his pocket,” she said.

After graduating from Klein Collins in 2006, McDaniel drifted a bit, working a series of different jobs and “trying to find his niche in this world,” she said.

He joined the Army as an infantryman in May 2010, inspired by the service of his older brother, a sergeant. He was assigned to 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in September 2010 and deployed to Iraq in February.

McDaniel’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star and Army Service Ribbon.

Gloria McDaniel worried constantly about her son while he was overseas, but never expected to lose him after he came home.

“A friend of mine said, ‘Hold on for a ride, it’s going to be a long hard one,’ and it is,” Gloria McDaniel said. “You don’t plan on burying a child. I mean you just don’t.”

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Northside Christian Church in Spring at 20250 Kuykendahl. The viewing is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Klein Funeral Home on Champion Forest Drive in Spring.